TUGUEGARAO CITY, CAGAYAN, Philippines 鈥� The bodies of three police officers, who drowned while on duty when their boat capsized Saturday, Dec. 7, were found in Calanasan, Apayao Sunday, Dec. 8, police said.
The fatalities were identified as Patrolman Halteric Pallat of Apayao, Patrolman Resty Bayog of Kalinga, and Patrolman John Lorenzo Togay-an Jr. of Benguet.
The cops drowned after the boat they were riding sank while navigating the Apayao River in Barangay Langnao.
The said victims were among the seven police officers who initiated a follow-up investigation on the possible arrest of a suspect in a shooting incident in Calanasan on Wednesday, Dec. 4.
Police Captain Ginabel Dao-inon, Apayao police spokesperson, said the police officers were part of a team conducting a hot pursuit operation and had to board the boat. Their five other fellow cops survived the incident.
The bodies of Bayog and Pallat were turned over to their families while the body of Togay-an Jr. will be transported to his family house in Buguias, Benguet on Monday, Dec. 9.